The merchants map of commerce wherein the universal manner and matter relating to trade and merchandize are fully treated of, the standard and current coins of most princes and republicks observ'd, the real and imaginary coins of accounts and exchanges express'd, the natural products and artificial commodities and manufactures for transportation declar'd, the weights and measures of all eminent cities and towns of traffick in the universe, collected one into another, and all reduc'd to the meridian of commerce practis'd in the famous city of London / by Lewis Roberts, merchant.

CHAP. CXXVII. Of Paris and the Trade thereof.

* 1.1PAris, being the principal City of France, and the ordinary residence of the King, is esteemed to be ten miles in compass, through which the River of Sein doth gently run, and so to Rouen, thence to the New-Haven or Haure de Grace, and thence to our British Oceam It is not of great consequence in matter of Trade, as neither affording Commodities to be ex∣ported, nor yet venting store of Commodities imported; though an ignorant French-man, which had not seen further than this City, calls it the greatest in the world for the Trade found therein, and for the multitude of Merchants, which I imagine he understood Shop-keepers; some Cloth, Lend, Tin Baies, and Stockings it venteth from England; Satins and other Silk; and Plushes from Italy; some small wares from Germany, and that is all the most important: It is one of the three Cities in France where Exchanges have been placed, Rouen and Lions being the other two; and though I have divers times been here, yet I could never find any remarkable observations in Trade, which incleed is no where in France much practised, be∣cause of the base esteem the French Nation do hold of Merchants and Merchandising, every Cob∣ler honouring his old Shooes with the Title of sa Merchandise, with as great confidence as he that never handled any Commodity but Silks or Jewels; in which foolish humour I will leave them, and come to my purpose.

Paris giving rule in the matter of Coin to all other Cities of France, I have purposely referred it here, to avoid the reiteration in any other City of this Kingdom.

* 1.2The least piece then of Coin Current in France is a Denier, two whereof makes a Double, and twelve thereof is a Souls, and Souls twenty make a Liver, which some call a Frank, and thus in Livers, Souls, and Deniers their Accounts are kept.

* 1.3Their common Coins are pieces of 8 Sol, which is the ⅜ of a French Crown in Silver: a piece of 16 Sold. which is the quarter Crown, 4 of which makes 64 Sold. accounted for a French Crown, and 4 Solds which is of 3 Livers Turnois. They have also pieces of 21 Sold. 4 Deniers being the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the said Crown, called by some Testons, and the ½ and ¼ thereof, and as the quarter Crowns were at first raised from 15 Sold to 16 Sold, and thereby the 60 Sold to 64 Sold, so were the said Testons also in proportion raised accordingly. The Gold Coins are only two, which is the common Crown, of 3 Livers or 60 Sold. and the Crown of the Sun, being 3 Livers 16 Sold, or 76 Sol.

All which Coins in their first coinage, bare this true worth and value, and then were con∣ceived to hold equality with England: thus 10 Sold to make 12 pence sterling.

23 Sold to make 2 shillings sterling, which is their Liver.

60 Sold. to make 6 shillings, or 72 pence, which is the French Crown.

* 1.4But these inhansed to such rates as the necessities of the Prince or Commerce inforce them, find net now any settled rate, but according to the will of the payer and receiver, for he that sells, his Commodities in France now for ready moneys, must contract it if he be wise at what rate he must have these Coins in payment, lest he imagine he sell to good profit, and yet by experience find he sells the same to a great loss and disadvantage.

And note, That since the writing of the abovesaid, the piece of 16 Sol. is raised to 20 Sol. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 on the whole, which I place here as a Caveat for such as shall have occasion to traffick in these Kingdoms, that he be inquisitive and circumspect to inform himself in the true worth and value thereofere he part with his Commodities.

* 1.5The Quintal of Paris is 100 l. which hath been found to produce in London near 100 l. suttle 2 per cent. more or less, which

In Lions renders of 16 ounces	116 l.
In Venetia sotile	144 l.

100 l. sotile in Venetia making in Paris 62½ l. of 15 ounces per l. The Cargo or great Quintal in Paris is 300 l. of 12 ounces per l, which makes in Florence 487 l. but the ordinary Quintal of 100 l. before-named is of 15 ounces to a pound.

Wine is sold by the Cistern, 96 making a Tun, and each Cistern contains 8 Pints, so that it may be accounted two Cones of Florence, which is (…) Gallons English, see London.

* 1.6They have two Measures in length, one for Silks, and another for Linnens, the which are (…)

But note, that all Merchants selling Silk Stuffs in gross in Paris, the same is sold by the Pound weight, which is better for the buyer, for thereby he discerneth the weight of the Silk he hath for his Money.

* 1.7Paris doth exchange with many places, which I here omit, and place the same amongst the Exchanges in general in the Tract following at the end of this Book in the Chapters 277 and 302.

* 1.8It may be imagined, that this Kingdom, considering the Riches thereof, should abound i•• Trade and Navigation; but the better sort of Men medling not with Traffick, as conceiving the same to be both ignoble and base, and consequently unfit for them, leave the same to such whose spirits are elevated to that ripeness, that they can but only be sorry for their erroneo•• opinions. Their Navigation also is not far, the Marselicans greatest Voyage being to Turk•…•…; and the Inhabitants of Rochel, Saint Malo and Rochel, seldom sailing into any Regions fur∣ther than Spain, their ill success in America's Plantations peradventure disswading them; b•…•… he that shall wisely look into the beauty of their In-land Towns, the Riches of the Countrey it self, and especially the plenty of Corn, Wines, Linnens and Salt that France produceth, and how much these Commodities are prized and sought after by other Nations, will be more willing to excuse the French for their so little desire to traffick into remove Regions.

* 1.9The next Province is la Beause, * 1.10wherein is Orleans a pleasant City, and where the neatest and most Elegant French Tongue is conceived to be spoken, seated on the Loire, but affording little matter of Trade or Commerce, save that it is found to be a great Through-Fair for all such Commodities as do enter into the heart of the Countrey, as to Lions and other Cities, upon the River of Loire, and by this way; and hath a growth of good Wines about it,

* 1.11The next is Berry, * 1.12wherein is Bourges seated as the prime and principal Town, who are much addicted to Clothing, and where great abundance of Sheep are found to pasture and feed.

The next is Bourbon, wherein is contained * 1.13Bourbon, Nevers, and Mollins, wherein I never saw any Commodities worth relation, save those excellent Instruments of Iron in small Cases here made in great abundance, called Estuus, and dispersed thence over all Chri∣stendom.

* 1.14The next is Beavois, the chief Town is Villa Franche.

* 1.15The next is Avergne, the principal City is Cleremont.

* 1.16The next is Limosin, the principal City is Limoges.

* 1.17The next is Perigort, the chief Town is Perigeux.

* 1.18The next is Quercu, the chief Town is Montalbon, one of the Cautionary Towns in the In∣testants possession, and now lately by the French King reduced to his subjection.

* 1.19The next is Dauphine, honoured with the Title of the Princes of France, * 1.20wherein is found Vienna, excelling in the Art of making Sword-blades. * 1.21Valentia, a fine City, watered with the Rhone; and lastly, Lions, once the principal Town of Traffick in all these parts, where having occasion of residence 1616. I noted these particulars following in Trade.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Paris and the Trade thereof.
• * 1.2

  Coins of France.
• * 1.3

  Accounts in France.
• * 1.4

  Note of Mo∣neys inhan∣sed lately in France.
• * 1.5

  Weights of Paris.
• * 1.6

  Measures of Paris.
• * 1.7

  Exchanges of Paris,
• * 1.8

  The French not addicted to Trade.
• * 1.9

  La Beause.
• * 1.10

  Orleans.
• * 1.11

  Berry.
• * 1.12

  Bourges.
• * 1.13

  Burbon. Nevers. Mollins.
• * 1.14

  Beavois.
• * 1.15

  Avergne.
• * 1.16

  Limosin.
• * 1.17

  Perigort.
• * 1.18

  Quercu.
• * 1.19

  Dauphine.
• * 1.20

  Vienna.
• * 1.21

  Valentia.